Jettisoning the heavy stuff…

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Monthly Archives: February 2016

I have had a recent “My Lack of Fitness Effects my Quality of Life” moment of clarity – a sort of hitting bottom but with no drama, just a realisation that I need to change my sedentary lifestyle for an active one. Actually I have known for at least six months (and the rest) that I need to make space in my life for exercise but I pushed that knowledge way down, deep down, so in fact it was going to take a hitting of bottom of sorts to spur me on to change. As I said, there was no drama. Just wonderful views. It went something like this:

We went for a walk last weekend before the rain came and while the skies were still blue. I often bemoan living in this remote part of England but I have to acknowledge that its remoteness is one of the things that make it so beautiful.

We walked up the steps of a favourite lookout tower. The wind was sharp but the air was sweet with winter sunshine. My companions raced on ahead. Phew, I was hot. I was shocked to feel how much the effort made my legs ache. I was quite out of breath even before we reached the top and my legs were wobbly.

Once at the top, the view to our left looked like this:

At this point, I have to confess that the lookout tower is really not very high. Sure, the views from it are wonderful but the walk to reach the top doesn’t begin at sea level or anything – far from it. The truth is, someone in their middle age and in good health should not have been making the noises that were escaping from my grimacing mouth. And I felt the burn baby.

To our right, the view looked like this:

As bottoms go, this was very beautiful.

I was embarrassed by how long it took me to appreciate the views, with my head down, trying to recover my breath. But it’s what needed to happen to make me realise that for the sake of physical and emotional well-being, now is the time to act. A daily commitment to not drinking alcohol, teaches that in order to succeed at anything, focus, commitment, practise and self-care are essential.

On Day 66 with no booze and Day 2 of a new commitment to exercise, I’m raising my glass (a mug actually) to getting stronger; step by step, practising and focusing on the here and now and taking in the sights along the way. Cheers! Tomorrow, I am going to park the car a little way off work and walk the rest of the way. Easy does it.

Thank you taking a new path for bringing attention to this sweet animation. Here’s to spreading the love and sharing likewise. It’s only four and a bit minutes long, so treat yourself and have a watch… Love from The Sober Garden x.

Relief, gratitude, a sense of freedom, love and the feeling of progression are sober-living bedfellows. Negative feelings can muscle their way in too of course (this past week anxiety and fear have both made an appearance) but a daily dose of swaiso exercise throws those bad boys out. Really, swaiso is working here. The early morning practise of swinging your arms, whilst grounded and standing firm, and concentrating on any negativity that you want rid of, helps hugely in keeping honest and open in every way – physically, emotionally and mentally.

So, adios fear and anxiety and hello 50 Day Presents! Yes, there have been treats in The Sober Garden. I bought myself a Nutribullet. Small yet mighty and very shiny, I don’t know who loves it more, me or my children. The last 50 days have re-kindled my taste buds love for life’s good stuff. No fruit, veg, seed or nut is safe from being pulverised by my new beautiful blender (sorry, I mean ‘extractor’). Weight-loss and beauty must surely follow…?!?!

And there’s more…Last night to celebrate we went out as a family to the cinema and held hands and ate chocolate and stayed up too late. Perfect. And earlier in the week my husband bought two dinner plates to replace two that were smashed at the start of the year. He had quietly put them on the dresser with the other plates and just pointed them out to me. Without putting a bow on them, I know they’re a congratulations present for 50 days sobriety.